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Holyoke Mall's down escalator at JC Penney to be fixed in August: spokeswoman

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This July 23 photo shows the escalators near JC Penney at the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside including the down escalator, on the left, which has been out of service for a while. The escalator is scheduled to be fixed in August, a mall official said.
((JOHN SUCHOCKI / THE REPUBLICAN))

HOLYOKE -- Plans are for the down escalator near JC Penney at the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside to be fixed and operating again in August, an official said Tuesday (July 29).

Mall Marketing Director Lisa Wray declined to say what was wrong with the escalator or how long it has been out of service.

The escalator that brings people up from the lower level, near the FYE For Your Entertainment store, is working. The adjacent one to bring shoppers who want to go down has been unavailable for weeks if not longer. Shoppers at that location have to go into JC Penney and use the escalator in there to reach the lower level.

The mall is celebrating its 35th anniversary, having opened July 5, 1979, with officials saying fixing the escalator is among improvements that include installing new tile flooring and renovations to bathrooms to be completed through early 2015.

The 1.6-million-square-foot mall is owned by Syracuse-based Pyramid Companies.

"We look forward to the numerous enhancements that are being made at Holyoke Mall over the next couple of months," Wray said in an email.

"We're confident that the escalator that's being serviced in JC Penney Court will only add to an overall more enjoyable shopping experience. While the majority of the shopping center enhancements are being done overnight and will not impact the customer's shopping experience, the escalator in JC Penney Court is being serviced
during business hours," she said.

"This escalator is scheduled for completion in August and we thank customers for their patience during this time. There is also a sign at this escalator directing customers just a few steps away into JC Penney where they will have access to their escalators to
get up or down," she said.